Sport The Sleeper Conference Title Contenders Are … ?

19:22 12 august 2017

19:22 12 august 2017 Source:
College Football News

5 upsets that could ruin a national title contender's season

Sometimes all it takes is one loss to derail a season in college football.&nbsp;Getting into the playoff usually means teams can't afford more than one defeat along the way, and that one blemish looks even worse if it's a game they're supposed to win. Even as prepared as the nation's elite teams typically are, every year we see program's fall victim to stunning upsets from underdogs.

No. 17: The Sleeper Conference Championship Contenders Are … ? They’re the sleepers in each conference title chase, with the right blend of talent, experience, and/or schedule to become one of the stunners of 2017.

Here’s an interesting “ sleeper ” pick to be an SEC title contender in 2017. Pete Fiutak of College Football News published a post in which he named sleeper conference title contenders for the upcoming season.

The Sleeper Conference Championship Contenders Are … ?

You never thought Iowa was going to battle for the Big Ten championship two years ago, or that Penn State was going to win it last season.

And you really, really didn't think Colorado was going to be in the Pac-12 title hunt or Wyoming was going to represent the Mountain Division in the Mountain West title game.

They're the sleepers in each conference title chase, with the right blend of talent, experience, and/or schedule to become one of the stunners of 2017.

Watch your back: 3 dark horse teams that could crack the CFP

National championship favorites begin to emerge almost immediately after the title is captured, and with those favorites comes a slew of teams just one break away from leapfrogging into contention.&nbsp;With programs like Alabama, Ohio State, Florida State, and Oklahoma thrown around as playoff contenders, the following three under-the-radar teams could do a lot this season to shake the foundation of college football.

The contender (s): Iona finished right behind Monmouth in the MAAC standings and is a threat to take the tournament title . The sleeper : Boston University, winner of eight of its last 10, should be able to get by American at home in the conference quarterfinals.

Florida State is a sleeper to watch for the national title . Why Arizona State Isn’t a Title Contender : Making the leap from an eight-win team to an 11 or 12-win team isn’t easy. With a wide-open Big 12, can the champion of the conference climb high enough in the polls to make a run at the national title ?

Who's going to be this year's Penn State, Colorado, or Wyoming? Who'll be this year's sleeper conference championship contenders to watch out for?

- Schedules: All 130 Teams, Predictions & Scenarios

American Athletic: UCF Knights

- UCF Preview

South Florida will be the easy pick to take the conference, but UCF has the talent to take the East - at least on offense.

Scott Frost's attack wasn't anything great last season, but it was a young group that should be night-and-day better. Everyone of note returns - absolutely everyone.

Getting USF at home is the big break, but having to go to Temple should be a bit of a problem. Even so, the Knights have the upside - even if the defense needs help - the make another big jump up under Frost.

ACC: NC State Wolfpack

- NC State Preview

5 PGA Championship sleeper picks with mouth-watering odds

For long shots that could make you big money.But that also highlights something of an upside: If you're willing to look below that pack, you can get some very good players at even better prices.

The Sleeper Team In The East. There is little doubt that the landscape of the Eastern Conference has changed. The Boston Celtics got better. The Toronto Raptors re-signed their impressive core. The Washington Wizards added pieces to their bench and the Cleveland Cavaliers still have LeBron

Without question, Stanford and Oregon are the favorites to win the Pac-12 title in 2013. This slideshow takes a look at three sleeper teams that could have a shot at playing in Pasadena come January. 2013 could finally be the year that Washington is a legit conference contender .

How does NC State possibly make any noise in a division with Clemson, Florida State and Louisville? It's not going to be easy, but the Cardinals and Tigers have to come to Raleigh, and there's no Virginia Tech or Miami to play from the West.

The defensive front might be the best in the ACC - if not the country - if everything breaks right. The offense has to replace RB Matthew Dayes, but eight starters are back from an attack that came really, really, really, really close to beating Clemson last year.

Big Ten: Minnesota Golden Gophers

- Offseason Analysis & Breakdown

The Gophers were in the Big Ten title chase right up until the end of the regular season, and now they should be even better - especially with a coaching upgrade.

P.J. Fleck was the hot guy at the right time, and even though it took an ugly scandal to eventually make it happen, that hot guy's in Minneapolis now.

With a potentially devastating running game behind a great-looking line, while the defense gets half the season to get it right.

Jason Day vows to handle World No. 1 ranking ‘differently’ next time

Jason Day vows to handle World No. 1 ranking 'differently' next time.Day enters this week's PGA Championship at Quail Hollow hoping to find something that can uplift what has been a difficult 2017 campaign. The 29-year-old hasn't won since last year's Players Championship and he's rarely contended in the meantime. There was an exciting runner-up performance at last year's PGA and a T-4 at the Barclays.

So, it’s a good time to start talking about national title contenders . The true ones are obvious – Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Florida State, Washington – but what are some sleeper national title contenders ?

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They have to go to Iowa, and they have to face Michigan and Michigan State from the East, but they get Nebraska and Wisconsin at home.

Big 12: Kansas State Wildcats

- Kansas State Preview

The linebacking corps needs work, and the defense loses a few other key stars, too, but the offense will be the Wildcat offense. The ground game will grind games down to a crawl, with eight starters returning to what should be yet another maddening O to deal with.

It's almost as if Kansas State was able to pick its own Big 12 schedule, getting Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma and West Virginia at home. While going to Oklahoma State and Texas won't be easy, there have to be some games away from Manhattan.

Conference USA: Old Dominion Monarchs

- Old Dominion Preview

One of last year's surprise teams might be ready to not only go bowling, but take over the East. It's a division with WKU, Middle Tennessee, and Marshall to face, but the Monarchs are going to be every bit as dangerous if the right quarterback steps up.

The ground game will be dominant with Ray Lawry rolling behind a veteran line, while the defense should be just good enough to hold its own against the high-powered Hilltoppers - a home game - and Blue Raiders.

At Full Strength, Lonnie Walker Can Help Miami's Offense Stay With the ACC's Elite

It should come as no surprise to college basketball fans that freshmen have come to possess a significant portion of the star power in the sport.&nbsp;It should come as no surprise to college basketball fans that freshmen have come to possess a significant portion of the star power in the sport. Just look at this year’s NBA draft, where the first upperclassman was not selected until Duke sophomore Luke Kennard with 12th pick. So while some returning players will undoubtedly have a major impact in 2017–18 season, it’s important to get to know the new faces who may come to occupy the spotlight.

Joyner: Conference sleeper contenders . Sleepers for conference crowns. The return of Will Sutton gives Arizona State a shot at challenging for the Pac-12 title .

What teams could be a darkhorse national title contender in 2012? Although Georgia and South Carolina are popular sleeper picks, both teams are ranked inside of Athlon's projected top 10. With Ohio State and Penn State banned from the conference title game, the Badgers are a clear favorite

MAC: Miami University RedHawks

- Miami University Preview

Once again, the East is the far easier of the two MAC divisions, and Miami University might be ready to take advantage.

Miami might have to go to Ohio, but it misses Toledo and Western Michigan from the West - that might be enough to get to Detroit to play for the title game.

Gus Ragland is the cool quarterback all the kids are talking about - or at least the geeky college football media types will be - to go along with nine starters back on defense. After a red-hot second half of last year, the RedHawks are going to be even better.

Mountain West: Hawaii Rainbow Warriors

- Hawaii Preview

If you're going to make a move in the Mountain West, you 1) want to be in the West Division, not the Mountain, 2) want San Diego State in your park, and 3) want San Diego State in your park after getting a week off to prepare.

Second-year head man Nick Rolovich still has a whole lot of work to do with a flawed team, but with a favorable slate, a dangerous passing attack that's more like the Hawaii we all know and love, and a defense that can't be any worse, and here might be your 2017 version of 2016 Wyoming.

Pac-12: Arizona Wildcats

- Arizona Preview

Arizona is the default sleeper team to be this year's Colorado.

There aren't any options in the North - it won't be Cal or Oregon State - and Arizona State, Utah and UCLA have nastier schedules in the South. Arizona's slate isn't easy - going to USC is a problem - but there's no Washington or Stanford from the North.

At Full Strength, Lonnie Walker Can Help Miami's Offense Stay With the ACC's Elite

It should come as no surprise to college basketball fans that freshmen have come to possess a significant portion of the star power in the sport.&nbsp;It should come as no surprise to college basketball fans that freshmen have come to possess a significant portion of the star power in the sport. Just look at this year’s NBA draft, where the first upperclassman was not selected until Duke sophomore Luke Kennard with 12th pick. So while some returning players will undoubtedly have a major impact in 2017–18 season, it’s important to get to know the new faces who may come to occupy the spotlight.

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And remember, Arizona won the South two years ago.

This should be a far better team, especially if everyone can finally stay healthy. Nine starters return to an offense that should be stronger and back to form, with one of the Pac-12's most dangerous ground games.

SEC: Texas A&M Aggies

- Texas A&M Preview

You've been hurt before.

Texas A&M has teased you, promised you, excited you - and then let you down.

This year's team has the athleticism and upside to make up for the losses on the defensive line and wide receiver, and there's still enough explosion to hang around with just about everyone.

Texas A&M is going to be good enough to win the West - but it's been good enough to win the West for a while, and it hasn't happened.

The schedule works out, though, with Alabama and Auburn coming to College Station, and with the dangerous road games at Ole Miss and LSU coming at the end. By late November, if those two games matter for A&M in any way for the SEC West title, things will be going well.

Sun Belt: South Alabama

- South Alabama Preview

The Jaguars had a little bit of fun last year on the way to a bowl game, but this season they'll have a more dangerous offense to go along with an improved defense that'll be fine, even without a few stars up front.

The biggest key is the schedule, with no Appalachian State to deal with with with Louisiana-Lafayette and Arkansas State at home.

- CFN Preview 2017

Four LeBron Trades That Sort Of (Kind Of) Make Sense .
OK, first of all, relax. I know you saw the headline and you’re ready to rip my face off.&nbsp;Everyone has assumed for a while now that LeBron James is leaving the Cavs after he becomes a free agent next offseason. We all figured that gave the Cavs one last shot with LeBron, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and their assorted veterans to avenge the Warriors (again) and win a second title before the LeBron Returns era concludes.

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